Doctors file petition against Ramadoss on salary issue

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The Resident Doctors Association of AIIMS and Maulana Azad Medical College today filed a contempt petition against Union Health Minister Dr A Ramdoss and Union Health Secretary P K Hota for not complying with the Supreme Court order dated July 17 directing the health ministry to release the pay of doctors who participated in the anti-reservation strike.

The petitioners have contended that despite the orders of the apex court, the respondents have not paid the salary for the period from May 13 to May 30 when the doctors were on strike against the HRD Minister Arjun Singh's order providing 27.5 per cent reservation to the OBCs in admission to educationl institutions in the country.

The Petitioners have also alleged that the respondents are guilty of ''wilful and deliberate disobedience'' of the court's order.

The resident doctors had called off their agitation as per the directions of he Supreme Court issued on May 31, 2006 and health services were immediately restored throughout the country.

The Government had assured the Supreme Court that there would be no victimisation of the doctors and there would be no punitive action against them.

Despite the assurance, the health ministry had not releasing the salary of the doctors for the period they were on strike saying that 'no work no pay' principle was applicable in the case of doctors.

A bench, headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat, had earlier scolded the Government for applying the principle of no work no pay. The court had also reminded the government that the government was on its knees when the strike was on and patients for suffering and at that time, the government had forgotten the principle.

The government is not releasing the salary despite the opinion given by Additional Solicitor General of India to release the same.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing next week.

AIIMS director Professor D Venugopal was sacked when he ordered the release of the salary to the striking doctors. The order was later stayed by Delhi High Court.

UNI AKS/SC SP RS2214